Fish-cleaning apparatus



l,624,1 April 12, 1927. P.. w. LINDQUIST 73 FISH CLEANIG APPARATUS Filed Oct. l51 1925 2 Sheets-Shout 2 patented pr. 12, 1927.

TEILIG? YV. LINDQUIST, OF SEATTLE, WASHNGTON.

FISH-CLEANING APPARATUS. v

Application led October 13, 1925. Serial No. 62,227.

My invention relates to fish cleaning apparatus that is used iu combination with the fish cleaning machines of standard make. An objectof the invention is to provide a casing for the rotary scraper with air suc tion means whereby the fish are held against the scraper wheel during the cleaning process. and whereby all loose shreds and par ticles of the fish are sucked through the casing. Another object is to provide a scraper wheel with longitudinal teeth and transverse grooves for the reception of semiannular lingers extending from the casing. with the teeth projecting exteriorly of the fingers so as to engage the lish that are to be cleaned. A further object is to provide means for adjusting the casing with respect to the scraper wheel so that the projection of the teeth may be varied as desired.

lVith the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of the novel construction, adaptation, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed. These objects are accomplished b v devices illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is an outline view in side elevation of a iish cleaning machine and showing my ceaning apparatus installed thereon;

Fig. 2 is a view in rear end elevation of the apparatus mounted on the scraper wheel frame;

Fig. 3 is a view in transverse Vertical section taken substantially on a broken line 3, 3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4: is a similar view taken on a broken line 11, et of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a view in front end elevation; and

Fig. G is a view in longitudinal vertical section taken substantially on a broken line 6,. 6 of Fig. 4.

Referring to the drawings, in which like reference numerals designate like parts, and more particularly to Fig. 1. the numeral 5 indicates the frame as a whole of a fish cleaning machine of standard make. It will be understood that only a suflicient part of the machine is shown to illustrate the combination of my apparatus therewith. Mounted on the top frame is a drive shaft G for supplying motion to the several operative parts as is well understood. A scraper frame 7 is pivotally supported by means of Ain the drawings.

beveled gears on said shaft in the well known manner the details of which are not shown. My apparatus is mounted in the lower portion of said frame as clearly shown The transverse shaft 8, which is the center of pivotal support of said frame, is provded with a sprocket Wheel 9 from which a chain 10 carries motion to a sprocket 11 that is keyed to theshaft 12 for supplying rotary motion tov my apparatus as more fully hereinafter set forth. It will be expressly understood that I do not confine myself to this sprocket drive as I may prefer to use ashaft and beveled gear arrangement for supplying rotary motion.

Before describing my device in detail and referring to Fig. 1, it will be understood that the heads of the fish are removed and also the tails and fins are cut off as the fish are drawn around the bull wheel member 13. Upon coming in Contact with the s litting saw 14, shown in dotted lines, t eir bellies are ripped and are partly opened by the opener 15. They are then carried around to engagement with the cleaning apparatus. A spring rod 16, secured to the frames 5 and 7, pivotally retains the apparatus in resilient engagement with the sh. The cleaning apparatus as a whole is pivotally suspended on the shaft 12 which is supported by bearings 17 on the frame 7. It will thus be seen that the operative end of the apparatus may be swingingly adjusted with respect to the bull wheel member 13, as by means of a turnbuckle rod 18 secured to the opposite or outer end of the apparatus end to the frame 7 or by any other suitable arrangement. As shown in dotted lines at 19 I sometimes use a second cleaning apparatus.

The scraper wheel 2O is keyed to the shaft 12 and is substantially in the shape of a double cone with concaved surfaces. It is provided with longitudinal teeth 21 and also with a plurality of grooves 22 that cut through the teeth 21 at right angles thereto. This arrangement in fact provides annular rows of projecting teeth around the scraper wheel as will be readily understood.

The casing in which the scraper wheel 20 is housed usually comprises an upper section 23 and a lower section 24 that are secured together by bolts 25 through their adjoining flanges as clearly shown in Fig. 3. The for- Ward end of the lower section is cut away, as

at 2G, while the 'forward end of the upper section is provided with a plurality ot lingers 2T. These fingers are curved to contorin to the scraper wheel and extend around same to a point slightly inside the lower casing section as shown in Figa. Each one oi them lits within one ot the grooves 22 with sufficient space to prevent binding and the teeth 2l project slightly outside as shown in Figs. 3 and t. Y

The arrangement for adjusting the fingers 27 with relation to the teeth 2l comprises square block bearings 2S interposed between cach end of the scraper wheel 2O and its respective bearing 17. The shaft l2 turns freely within said block bearings. The lateral ends ot the casing sections are made square7 as at 29J to contorni to the block bearings with a small sp ce between as shown in Fig. 3. Set screws 8O extend Vthrough the casing on all tour sides and engage the bearings 28. By loosening one oit the screws and setting up on the opposite one 1t will be obvious that the casing may be shifted one way or the other to cause thel teeth 2l to project exteriorly of the fingers more or less as desired. The bearings 28 are provided with flanges 3l that serve as closui-es for the ends of the casing and prevent the entry of too much air when the suction arrangement is in operation.

The suction means comprises a tan 32 mounted within the casing slightly back of the scraper wheel 20. Said tan is propelled by a Wheel 33 and connected therewith by a shait 34C. A housing 35 encloses the wheel and a partition 36 separates said housing from thel main casing of the device. The motive power for the wheel may be water or steam and enters by a fiexible pipe 87 and discharges through a pipe 38 of much larger diameter. This means of supplyingI motive power for the suction device is merely intended tor illustration and it will be understood that any suitable means may be used. An opening 39 is provided in the lower section 24 ot the main casing for the escape of the air from the tan and also for entry in cleaning out the casing.

In the operation ot my device the conical shape of the scraper wheel 2O will spread the lish open upon coming into engagement therewith. rllhe sides of the fish being ilexible the air suction will draw them snugly against the fingers 2T and the teeth 2l will remove the entrails and blood as will be readily understood. l sometimes use two of the devices; one being adjusted for removal of the ent 'ails and the other for scraping out the blood.

The drawings are merely intended for the purpose of illustrating' one means of reducing my principles to practice and such changes may be resorted to as are within the scope and spirit of the invention. lVhile l have described the device with some particularity it will be understood that I intend no limitations except in so tar as may be imposed by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l. The combination with a fish cleaning machine, of a ish cleaning apparatus comprising a rotary scraper wheel arranged to engage the fish on lines which are tangent to the said scraper wheel at its outer surface, a casing for said wheel, and air suction means for said casing.

2. The combination with a lish cleaning machine, ot a sh cleaning apparatus comprising a rotary scraper wheel having a plu rality ot' annular grooves, a casing with a plurality of fingers arranged to lit said grooves and air suction mea-ns for said casing.

3. The combination with a fish cleaning machine, of a fish cleaning apparatus con prising a rotary scraper wheel having a plurality of annular' grooves, a casing with a plurality of fingers adapted to fit said grooves, means for adjusting said casing and ingers with respect to said grooves and suction means for the casing.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 7th day of October, A. D. 1925.

PHILIP W. LINDQUIST. 

